Metalworking dust collection attachment and grinding tool

ABSTRACT

Grinding chips generated during metalworking are collected, and dust is collected using a dust collector. A metalworking dust collection attachment removably attachable to a grinding tool including a tip tool includes a suction port that collects grinding chips generated during grinding with the tip tool, and a collector connected to the suction port to collect the grinding chips sucked into the suction port. The collector cools the grinding chips.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-101105, filed on Jun. 17, 2021, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a metalworking dust collection attachment and a grinding tool.

2. Description of the Background

Grinding tools such as grinders are used in metalworking to prevent grinding chips from scattering around. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-73097 (Patent Literature 1) describes a grinder including a front portion with a protective cover covering a grinding disc from above. The protective cover includes, in its internal space, a metal protective plate covering the front periphery of the grinding disc. The protective cover includes a protruding duct on its rear surface to which a cylindrical metal component is connected. The cylindrical component receives a metal mesh plate placed inside. The cylindrical component collects sparks (grinding chips) discharged from a workpiece during grinding.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The protective cover described in Patent Literature 1 directly collects grinding chips with high temperature. A dust collection hose formed from a resin may be connected to the cylindrical component. The dust collection hose may melt or damage as the grinding chips pass through the mesh plate. Thus, an external dust collector cannot be connected for dust collection.

One or more aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a metalworking dust collection attachment and a grinding tool that allow collection of grinding chips generated during metalworking and allow dust collection using a dust collector.

A first aspect of the present disclosure provides a metalworking dust collection attachment removably attachable to a grinding tool including a tip tool, the attachment including:

a suction port configured to collect grinding chips generated during grinding with the tip tool; and

a collector connected to the suction port to collect the grinding chips sucked into the suction port, the collector being configured to cool the grinding chips.

A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a grinding tool, including:

the tip tool; and

the metalworking dust collection attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 8 attached to the tip tool.

The metalworking dust collection attachment and the grinding tool according to the above aspects of the present disclosure allow collection of grinding chips generated during metalworking and allow dust collection using a dust collector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a grinder with a metalworking dust collection attachment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the grinder with the metalworking dust collection attachment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the grinder with the metalworking dust collection attachment.

FIG. 4 is an exploded front perspective view of a collection tube.

FIG. 5 is an exploded rear perspective view of the collection tube.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 3 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Examples

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a grinder with a metalworking dust collection attachment (hereafter simply referred to as an attachment). FIG. 2 is a front view of the grinder, and FIG. 3 is a side view. The metalworking dust collection attachment is attached to a grinding tool such as a grinder and is used during metalworking. The grinding tool receives the dust collection attachment. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, grinding includes polishing.

A grinder 50 includes a body housing 51 extending in the front-rear direction. The body housing 51 accommodates a motor. The body housing 51 includes a front portion joined to a gear housing 52. The gear housing 52 includes a spindle 53. The spindle 53 protrudes downward from the gear housing 52. A grip 54 with a small diameter is located behind the body housing 51. The grip 54 receives a power cable 55 connected to its rear end.

The spindle 53 has a lower end orthogonally receiving a disc-shaped tip tool 56. The tip tool 56 is, for example, a grinding disc. The gear housing 52 has a lower portion joined to a wheel cover 57. The wheel cover 57 is semicircular as viewed from above, and covers a rear portion of the tip tool 56 from above and behind.

The gear housing 52 has the left and right side surfaces with threaded holes 58. Each of the threaded holes 58 may receive an auxiliary handle 59 that is screwed. In the present embodiment, the left threaded hole 58 receives the auxiliary handle 59.

An attachment 1 includes a suction tube 2, a connection tube 3, and a collection tube 4.

The suction tube 2 is formed from metal and has a guard 5 at its front end. The guard 5 is continuously joined to the right front end of the wheel cover 57. The guard 5 includes a fan-shaped upper plate 6 as viewed from above and a curved peripheral plate 7. The upper plate 6 is located above the tip tool 56. The peripheral plate 7 extending downward from the outer periphery of the upper plate 6 faces the periphery of the tip tool 56. The suction tube 2 is connected to the peripheral plate 7 in the tangential direction to the tip tool 56 and protrudes right rearward. The end of the suction tube 2 adjacent to the peripheral plate 7 is diagonally open toward the periphery of the tip tool 56.

The connection tube 3 is formed from, for example, a heat-resistant resin. The connection tube 3 is flexible. The connection tube 3 includes a larger-diameter portion 8 at its upstream end. The larger-diameter portion 8 is connected to the protruding end of the suction tube 2. The connection tube 3 including the larger-diameter portion 8 connected to the suction tube 2 extends in the same direction as the suction tube 2 protrudes, bends upward and then backward in a U-shape, and extends straight above the suction tube 2 to above the guard 5. The connection tube 3 further bends upward and extends rearward until its downstream end is connected to the collection tube 4.

The collection tube 4 is formed from metal such as an aluminum alloy. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the collection tube 4 includes an inlet tube 10, a body tube 11, and an outlet tube 12.

The inlet tube 10 protrudes frontward and is placed in the downstream end of the connection tube 3. The inlet tube 10 includes a lower rear portion integral with a lid 13. The lid 13 has a larger diameter than the inlet tube 10. The inlet tube 10 and the lid 13 have their rear end surfaces flush with each other in the front-rear direction. The lid 13 is a circular cap with an opening in its rear surface. The lid 13 includes a pair of screw receivers 14 on both the left and right. Each screw receiver 14 has a through-hole. The collection tube 4 includes a partition 15 between a rear portion of the inlet tube 10 and the lid 13. The partition 15 has a cutout 16. The cutout 16 allows a lower right portion of the inlet tube 10 to communicate with an upper right portion of the lid 13. Thus, the internal space of the inlet tube 10 communicates with the internal space of the lid 13 in the common tangent direction through the cutout 16.

The body tube 11 has a front end surface 11 a in conformance with outer shapes of the inlet tube 10 and the lid 13. The front end surface 11 a has a flat surface in its upper portion and seals the rear end of the inlet tube 10 in the assembled structure. The front end surface 11 a has an entry opening 17 in its lower portion. The diameter of the entry opening 17 is substantially the same as the internal diameter of the lid 13. The body tube 11 includes, below the front end surface 11 a, a pair of screw receptacles 18 each protruding from its left and right surfaces. Each screw receptacle 18 includes a threaded hole corresponding to the screw receiver 14 in the lid 13. The front end surface 11 a includes a positioning rib 19 protruding along the shape of the front end surface 11 a from the upper periphery through the right periphery to the lower periphery. In the inlet tube 10 in the assembled structure, the positioning rib 19 fits in the inner surface of the rear end of the inlet tube 10 and the inner surface of the rear end of the lid 13 through the cutout 16.

The body tube 11 is a curved tapered cylinder having an increasingly larger inner diameter toward the rear than at the entry opening 17. The body tube 11 includes a front portion integral with a cylindrical portion 20 above the body tube 11. The cylindrical portion 20 extends orthogonally to the body tube 11. The body tube 11 includes a rear portion with a pair of bases 21 on both the left and right. The bases 21 each accommodate a hook button 22. Each hook button 22 includes a middle portion supported pivotably on a shaft 23 extending in the up-down direction, with its rear end protruding beyond the rear end of the body tube 11. Each hook button 22 includes an engaging tab 24 at its rear end. Each engaging tab 24 protrudes to face the other tab. A coil spring 25 is placed between the front end of the hook button 22 and the base 21. The front end of the hook button 22 is thus urged outward to the left or right away from the base 21. Thus, the hook buttons 22 are normally tilted with their rear ends closer to each other.

The outlet tube 12 has a smaller diameter than an exit opening 26 at the rear end of the body tube 11. The outlet tube 12 includes a flange 27 integral with the front end. The flange 27 fits in the exit opening 26. The flange 27 has a rear surface with an engaging groove 28 along the full outer periphery. The engaging tabs 24 on the hook buttons 22 are engageable with the engaging groove 28.

To join the inlet tube 10 to the body tube 11, the body tube 11 is positioned by fitting the positioning rib 19 on the front end surface 11 a into the inner surfaces of the inlet tube 10 and the lid 13. The screw receivers 14 then receive a pair of screws 30 from the front. The screws 30 are then threaded into the screw receptacles 18. Thus, the rear end of the inlet tube 10 is sealed with the front end surface 11 a of the body tube 11, and the internal space of the lid 13 communicates with the entry opening 17 of the body tube 11. The collection tube 4 thus includes a cyclone assembly 31.

In the cyclone assembly 31, air flowing through the inlet tube 10 travels toward the rear and down tangentially through the cutout 16 and enters the internal space of the lid 13. The air then whirls along the inner surface of the lid 13 and enters the body tube 11 and flows spirally downstream in the body tube 11.

The flange 27 is moved toward the exit opening 26 from behind the body tube 11 to cause interference between the flange 27 and the engaging tabs 24. This opens the rear ends of the hook buttons 22 to the left and right against a force from the coil springs 25, thus allowing the flange 27 to move. Once the flange 27 fits into the exit opening 26, the hook buttons 22 return to their tilted positions under a force from the coil springs 25, thus causing engagement between the engaging tabs 24 and the engaging groove 28. The outlet tube 12 protrudes rearward from the center of the body tube 11.

The assembled collection tube 4 is then attached to the grinder 50 at the right side surface of the gear housing 52. As shown in FIG. 7 , a knob screw 35 with a threaded portion 36 is placed into the cylindrical portion 20 of the body tube 11 from the right outside. The tip of the threaded portion 36 is screwed into the threaded hole 58 in the gear housing 52 by rotating a knob 37. The cylindrical portion 20 is then fixed between the knob 37 and the gear housing 52, thus supporting the collection tube 4 on the right of the grinder 50 in the front-rear direction.

The inlet tube 10 is connected to a downstream end of the connection tube 3 to complete the attachment 1 attached as in FIGS. 1 to 3 . A dust collection hose 40 connected to a dust collector (not shown) is connected to the outlet tube 12. The dust collector is operated to generate a suction force in the suction tube 2. Air drawn into the suction tube 2 flows through the connection tube 3 to the collection tube 4, entering the body tube 11 through the inlet tube 10. In the cyclone assembly 31, the air whirling counterclockwise as viewed from the front flows downstream in the body tube 11, then through the outlet tube 12 and the dust collection hose 40 to the dust collector.

To support the grinder 50, an operator holds the grip 54 and the auxiliary handle 59. The auxiliary handle 59 is attached to the left of the gear housing 52. Grinding is performed on a workpiece with the tip tool 56 rotating in the direction indicated by the solid arrow in FIG. 1 . Grinding chips scattering in the tangential direction indicated by the dotted arrow are sucked into the suction tube 2 with air. The grinding chips then move through the connection tube 3 to enter the inlet tube 10 as indicated by the two-dot chain arrows in FIG. 6 . The grinding chips in the cyclone assembly 31 whirl inside the body tube 11 with air and subsequently move through the outlet tube 12 and the dust collection hose 40 and are collected in the dust collector.

A workpiece formed from metal generates grinding chips such as iron powders. The grinding chips with high temperature are directly sucked into the suction tube 2. The grinding chips with high temperature are sucked into the suction tube 2 and their temperature decreases to a certain degree as the grinding chips pass through the connection tube 3. The grinding chips then whirl inside the body tube 11 over a relatively long distance and cool effectively. The grinding chips passing through the dust collection hose 40 are thus cooler. Such grinding chips are less likely to melt or damage the dust collection hose 40, including the dust collection hose 40 formed from a resin, and are fed to the dust collector.

For such grinding chips accumulating in the body tube 11, an operator may pinch the front ends of the hook buttons 22 on the left and right and open the rear ends of the hook buttons 22 outward to the left and right. The flange 27 is then disengaged, allowing the outlet tube 12 to be removed from the body tube 11. The grinding chips can thus be discarded from the body tube 11 through the exit opening 26.

The attachment 1 according to the present embodiment includes the suction tube 2 (suction port) that collects grinding chips generated during grinding with the tip tool 56, and the collection tube 4 (collector) connected to the suction tube 2 to collect the grinding chips sucked into the suction tube 2. The collection tube 4 cools the grinding chips.

Such grinding chips with high temperature can be cooled in the collection tube 4. This enables collection of grinding chips generated during metalworking and also dust collection using a dust collector.

The outlet tube 12 (connector) is located at the downstream end of the collection tube 4. The outlet tube 12 (connector) is connectable to the dust collection hose 40. Thus, the dust collection hose 40 can be easily connected, and a dust collector can collect dust.

The collection tube 4 includes the cyclone assembly 31 that whirls the grinding chips inside the collection tube 4. The cyclone assembly 31 allows the grinding chips to cool. Thus, the grinding chips can be cooled effectively through the cyclone assembly 31.

The connection tube 3 (connection channel) is between the suction tube 2 and the collection tube 4. Grinding chips with high temperature are also cooled while passing through the connection tube 3.

The suction tube 2, the collection tube 4, and the connection tube 3 are each formed from a heat-resistant material. Thus, grinding chips with high temperature passing through these tubes do not melt or damage the tubes, thus maintaining the durability of the tubes.

The collection tube 4 is removably attached in the threaded hole 58 (handle holder) in the grinder 50 (grinding tool). The threaded hole 58 facilitates attachment of the collection tube 4.

The collection tube 4 has the exit opening 26 (discharge port) to be open and closed to allow discharging of the grinding chips. The grinding chips accumulating in the collection tube 4 can be discarded easily.

The suction tube 2 is integrally attachable to the wheel cover 57 (cover) attached to the grinder 50 to cover the tip tool 56. The suction tube 2 fixed at an appropriate position allows reliable collection of grinding chips.

Modifications of the present disclosure will now be described.

The suction tube 2 may have an angle or length modified as appropriate. The guard 5 may have a shape modified as appropriate. A wheel cover 57 in a certain shape may have no guard 5, and a suction tube 2 may be directly attached to the wheel cover 57. The suction tube 2 may be removably attached to the wheel cover 57 or may be attached to an adjustable position.

The length of the connection tube 3 or its arrangement may be modified as appropriate. The connection tube 3 may be formed from metal. The connection channel is not limited to a tube. For example, the connection channel may include a path defined in a casing.

The collection tube 4 may be in a form modified as appropriate. For example, the outlet tube 12 and the body tube 11 may be hinged together to define the exit opening 26 to be open and closed. In another example, the outlet tube 12 may be integral with the body tube 11, and the body tube 11 may have a discharge port 26 to be open and closed on its side surface or bottom surface. The discharge port 26 may be eliminated.

The cyclone assembly 31 may have the structure modified as appropriate. In the structure according to the above embodiment, air in the collection tube 4 flows spirally rearward. In another structure, for example, a collection tube 4 may be placed in the vertical direction to allow air entering through the top to flow spirally downward.

The assembly that functions to cool the grinding chips is not limited to the cyclone assembly 31. For example, a collection tube 4 with a longer internal channel may cool the grinding chips.

The position of the cylindrical portion 20 is not limited to the position described in the above embodiment. For example, the cylindrical portion 20 may be attached to the lower part of the collection tube 4 or to the inlet tube 10.

The collection tube 4 is not limited to the form dividable into three tubes as described in the above embodiment. The collection tube 4 may include, for example, one or two tubes, or four or more components joined together. The collection tube 4 may be assembled with a method other than screwing.

The attachment 1 may be attached on the left of the grinder 50 instead of being attached on the right.

The handle holder 58 in the grinder 50 is not limited to a threaded hole.

The attachment 1 can be attached to the grinder 50 without using the handle holder 58 including a threaded hole.

The grinder 50 may be an alternating current (AC) tool or a direct current (DC) tool powered by a battery.

The grinding tool 50 is not limited to a grinder. The grinding tool 50 may be, for example, a sander or a polisher.

The grinding tool 50 is not limited to a power tool. An air tool or an engine tool can also use the attachment 1 according to the present disclosure.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   1 metalworking dust collection attachment -   2 suction tube -   3 connection tube -   4 collection tube -   5 guard -   10 inlet tube -   11 body tube -   12 outlet tube -   13 lid -   15 partition -   16 cutout -   20 cylindrical portion -   22 hook button -   31 cyclone assembly -   35 knob screw -   40 dust collection hose -   50 grinder -   51 body housing -   52 gear housing -   53 spindle -   56 tip tool -   58 threaded hole 

What is claimed is:
 1. A metalworking dust collection attachment removably attachable to a grinding tool including a tip tool, the attachment comprising: a suction port configured to collect grinding chips generated during grinding with the tip tool; and a collector connected to the suction port to collect the grinding chips sucked into the suction port, the collector being configured to cool the grinding chips.
 2. The metalworking dust collection attachment according to claim 1, further comprising: a connector located at a downstream end of the collector, the connector being connectable to a dust collection hose.
 3. The metalworking dust collection attachment according to claim 1, wherein the collector includes a cyclone assembly configured to whirl the grinding chips inside the collector to cool the grinding chips.
 4. The metalworking dust collection attachment according to claim 1, further comprising: a connection channel between the suction port and the collector.
 5. The metalworking dust collection attachment according to claim 4, wherein the suction port, the collector, and the connection channel each comprise a heat-resistant material.
 6. The metalworking dust collection attachment according to claim 1, wherein the collector is removably attachable to a handle holder located on the grinding tool.
 7. The metalworking dust collection attachment according to claim 1, wherein the collector includes a discharge port to be open or closed to allow discharging of the grinding chips.
 8. The metalworking dust collection attachment according to claim 1, wherein the suction port is integrally attachable to a cover attached to the grinding tool to cover the tip tool.
 9. A grinding tool, comprising: the tip tool; and the metalworking dust collection attachment according to claim 1 attached to the tip tool.
 10. The metalworking dust collection attachment according to claim 2, wherein the collector includes a cyclone assembly configured to whirl the grinding chips inside the collector to cool the grinding chips.
 11. The metalworking dust collection attachment according to claim 2, further comprising: a connection channel between the suction port and the collector.
 12. The metalworking dust collection attachment according to claim 3, further comprising: a connection channel between the suction port and the collector.
 13. The metalworking dust collection attachment according to claim 11, wherein the suction port, the collector, and the connection channel each comprise a heat-resistant material.
 14. The metalworking dust collection attachment according to claim 12, wherein the suction port, the collector, and the connection channel each comprise a heat-resistant material.
 15. The metalworking dust collection attachment according to claim 2, wherein the collector is removably attachable to a handle holder located on the grinding tool.
 16. The metalworking dust collection attachment according to claim 3, wherein the collector is removably attachable to a handle holder located on the grinding tool.
 17. The metalworking dust collection attachment according to claim 4, wherein the collector is removably attachable to a handle holder located on the grinding tool.
 18. The metalworking dust collection attachment according to claim 5, wherein the collector is removably attachable to a handle holder located on the grinding tool.
 19. The metalworking dust collection attachment according to claim 2, wherein the collector includes a discharge port to be open or closed to allow discharging of the grinding chips.
 20. The metalworking dust collection attachment according to claim 3, wherein the collector includes a discharge port to be open or closed to allow discharging of the grinding chips. 